Kapalbhati is a breathing technique where the exhalation is forceful and quick, while the inhalation is normal. Exhalation is the main part of Kapalbhati.
Kapalbhati will calm your mind, clear thoughts and reduce stress. Normally you should do no more than 300 inhalations and exhalations, but If you do it 500 times, you’ll have no stress at all, and if you do it 1500 times you will fall into a trans state known as a glimpse of Nirvana. If you are a beginner, do not start from 1500 breaths, it’s dangerous! Start from 60 breaths and slowly increase this quantity over the time.
The word kapalbhati is made up of two words: kapal meaning ‘skull’ (here skull includes all the organs in and under the skull too) and bhati meaning ‘shining, illuminating’, so kapalbhati means shining skull. Kapalbhati cleans the cranial sinuses, that’s why it has such name.
You should practice Kapalbhati at least in 2 hours after a meal when you have an empty stomach.
Don’t practice Kapalbhati if you have some heart ailment, high blood pressure, stroke or epilepsy.
- Sit in a meditation pose, or you can do it standing on your feet.
- Breathe out quickly and forcefully, inhale normally for one minute. Start with the speed 60 breaths (in and out) a minute, and gradually day by day increase the speed up to 120 breaths a minute.
- Relax for 1 minute.
- Repeat 2 more times.
